Few things, if any, upset the Apostle Paul any more than the dilution (watering down) of the Gospel!

To this great man, the Gospel is: “That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

And that Act, that Deed, Jesus’ Salvation Procuring Calvary Experience … is the means, THE ONLY MEANS, by which man can be saved! Can be rescued from an eternal Hell! Can be guaranteed eternal life!

Yes, tamper with the Gospel as being a GIFT of God to erring mankind … and you’ll have Paul ranting and raving! And even … “cursing?”

Yes!

If one’s definition of “cursing” is pronouncing “eternal doom” on a person, definitely YES!

And he did just that at the beginning of his most polemic Epistle of all … Galatians!

He pronounced sure-coming Judgment on those who were trying to introduce Moses (instead of Jesus, or alongside Jesus) as a means of salvation! Trying to mix “works” into God’s Salvation by “Grace” Plan!

Wow!

Paul could not bide “any other Gospel!”

So Galatians 1:8-9 boldly asserts: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Paul did not care who it was … that preached a false Gospel!

Even an angel!

(Though it would be a “fallen” angel, wouldn’t it?)

(A virtual “demon,” I suppose!)

And certainly this horrible imprecation includes a man, a badly mistaken man!

Now to today’s main Line … “Let him be accursed.”

In fact Paul says this twice, within just a few words! I say … “Let him be accursed.”

The  word “accursed” used here is spelled “anathema” in Greek. (Yes, it has become an English word, has entered our vocabulary … transliterated at that … “anathema!” Simply defined as: “a formal curse, one denouncing a doctrine or person!”

So let’s study this important noun. The “thema” part of the word is an expression of a verb, “tithemi.” It means “to place” or “to designate” something! Or “to appoint” something. Nearly “to dedicate it for a certain purpose!”

And the “ana” prefix (a preposition) means (or can mean) “every man!” But its most frequent implication is “into the midst” of something.

Here an accursed person is one who is “prayed into, dedicated to, designated for” … DESTRUCTION! ETERNAL DAMNATION! AN ETERNITY IN HELL FIRE AND BRIMSTONE!

Wow!

It is roughly the equivalent (though not spoken with malice or sinful hatred, or frivolity either) to our English curse: “Go to Hell!” (I know that is plain. But it is also truthful, accurate!)

Furthermore, the verb “let (him) be” (in “Let him be accursed”) is a form of “eimi” in Greek, meaning a state of “being,” but here it’s framed as an imperative, a necessity, a no-exceptions consequence of denying the Grace of God, the saving Grace of God!

Yes, Paul the Apostle … in the spirit of the many imprecatory Psalms, has just pronounced (according to the perfect, promised Will of God) doom on anyone who believes not (actually in this case, perverts) the true Gospel!

To this man of God anyway, this former “Saul of Tarsus” … getting the Gospel wrong is deadly!

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18, Jesus speaking, agreeing with Paul!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More about these false preachers, false teachers tomorrow, the Lord willing.